ISLAMABAD, June 5: Japan honoured on Tuesday a team of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) personnel for transporting to the federal capital the Japanese tourists who were stranded in Gilgit because of sectarian violence in April.

At a ceremony, Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Oe presented an ‘award of excellence’ to the 17-member team for the successful emergency evacuation of 77 Japanese tourists from Gilgit to the Chaklala Airbase on April 8.

On the request of the Japanese Embassy, the PAF had promptly dispatched a military aircraft to airlift the tourists, including some people from other countries.

Praising the meritorious service by the PAF, Ambassador Oe said the government and the people of Japan valued this effort rendered by the team which successfully transported Japanese tourists from Gilgit to Islamabad despite short time and an inclement weather.